rrow," announced Tad Rason, in
reply to a question from Phil. "I'm bound down the lake now to meet a
party of hunters comin' from Albany. I take 'em out every season, actin'
as guide."

"Perhaps we'll get you to go out with us some day," said Roger.

"All right, boys. I'll be glad to go, if I ain't got any job with them
other fellows," announced the old hunter.

Although he was not willing to admit it to the others, Dave was greatly
worried over the news brought by Tad Rason. Coupling it with what he had
heard from Link Merwell and Nat Poole, he could reach but one
conclusion, which was that in some way Ward Porton was going to try to
prove that the boy from the Crumville poorhouse was not the real Dave
Porter.

"Maybe he'll come along with a story that he is the real Dave," thought
our hero, bitterly. "He said he was raised in a poorhouse, just like
myself, but he also said it was away down East and not anywhere near the
vicinity of Crumville. How he is going to get around that is beyond me.
I don't think he'll be able to make anybody believe his story. Just the
same, I wish this thing hadn't come up. I'd like to forget those
poorhouse days entirely." And at the remembrance of those bitter times,
Dave sighed deeply.

"Dave, you look awfully worried," said Jessie, that evening when the
boys were getting ready for their next day's tramp. "What is the
trouble?"

"Oh, it isn't much," he answered, evasively. "I was just thinking over
what Link Merwell said."

"Dave, don't let him worry you so!" cried the girl, sympathetically. "He
is a bad boy, and everybody knows it."

"But he said some things that I don't like at all, Jessie. I don't like
him to call me a poorhouse nobody."

"Dave, don't you mind him! I don't care if you did come from the
poorhouse. I think just as much of you anyway," and Jessie's eyes showed
her earnestness.

"It's splendid of you to say that," he returned, in a low tone, and
catching both her hands, he squeezed them tightly. "It's a grand good
thing to have somebody who believes in you."

Early in the evening there was a slight shower, and some of the boys
thought they were in for a steady rain. But soon the clouds passed, and
the moon and stars came out as brightly as ever.

"A perfect day!" announced Roger, on arising the next morning. "Just
cool enough to make mountain climbing a pleasure."

The servants had an early breakfast ready for the boys, and by the time
the girls and the o